1 

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Animal and 

Plant Health 

Inspection 

Service 

APHIS 91–55–071 

Pseudorabies Eradication

State–Federal–Industry

Program Standards

Effective November 1, 2003
2 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs 

and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, race, religion, age, disability, 

political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases 

apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 

communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 

326–W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–

9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer. 

Issued November 2003 

This publication supersedes APHIS 91–55–071, under the same title, which was 

effective August 1, 2003. 
3 

 Pseudorabies Eradication Program Standards

Contents

Introduction 

Part I Definitions 

Part II Administrative Procedures 

Part III Program Stages and Requirements 

Stage I—Preparation 

Stage II—Control 

Stage III—Mandatory Herd Cleanup 

Stage IV—Surveillance 

Stage V—Free 

Part IV Participation in Herd Plans and Release of Quarantines

Subpart I — The Qualified Pseudorabies - Negative Herd 

 Subpart II — The Qualified - Negative Gene-Altered Vaccinated (QNV) Herd 

Subpart III — The Pseudorabies - Monitored Feeder-Pig Herd 

Subpart IV — Quarantine Release Procedures 

 

References

The minimum standards described in this publication do not preclude the adoption of more stringent 

standards by any geographic or political subdivision of the United States.
4 

Introduction

These Program Standards were adopted for the eradication of pseudorabies from all domestic swine in 

the United States. These are the minimum standards developed by the Veterinary Services division of the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA), and endorsed by swine health practitioners and State animal health officials at the annual 

meeting of the United States Animal Health Association in October 2003. 

The following list highlights changes adopted in this version of the Program Standards. 

Throughout the document, “National Pork Board” has replaced “National Pork Producers Council.”

Part I, Definitions

Definitions have been added for commercial production swine, confirmed case, feral or wild swine, and 

transitional production swine. 

Part II, Administrative Procedures

Sec. B., when entering and while on a premises, biosecurity procedures must be used by Program 

personnel. 

Sec. G., only the original Application for Program entry and advancement in status is required to be sent to 

the National Center for Animal Health Programs staff for approval. No additional copies are necessary. 

Sec. I., a new section is added about the procedure for changing the Program Standards. 

Part III, Stage I (Preparation) 

Sec. A.6., State progress and activity reports are now required to be produced monthly. 

Part III, Stage IV (Surveillance) 

Sec. A.4., a new subsection is added that requires states to develop and adopt a management plan that 

adequately separates and controls the interface of feral and transitional production swine with commercial 

production swine. 

Sec. G., now requires that only confirmed cases of pseudorabies in commercial production swine be 

reported immediately to Veterinary Services for action. Additionally, after a confirmed case is identified in 

commercial production swine, all movement of swine from herds withing a five-mile radius of the case and 

from exposed herds must be stopped until such herds are tested and found to be negative using an official 

random sample test (95/5); and this testing must be completed within 15 days of identifying the infected 

herd. 

Part III, Stage V (Free) 

Sec.B.6. now requires states to develop and adopt a management plan that adequately separates and 

controls the interface of feral and transitional production swine with commercial production swine. 

Sec. C., now requires that only confirmed cases of pseudorabies in commercial production swine be 

reported immediately to Veterinary Services for action. Additionally, after a confirmed case is identified in 

commercial production swine, all movement of swine from herds withing a five-mile radius of the case and 

from exposed herds must be stopped until such herds are tested and found to be negative using an official 

random sample test (95/5); and this testing must be completed within 15 days of identifying the infected 
5 

herd.

Part I—Definitions

Accredited veterinarian 

A veterinarian approved by the Administrator of APHIS, USDA, to perform functions 

required by cooperative State–Federal–Industry animal disease-control and -eradication 

programs. 

Administrator 

The Administrator of APHIS, USDA, or any other official of APHIS to whom authority 

has been delegated or may be delegated to act in his or her stead. 

Approved all-class market

A livestock market approved by the Administrator where breeding, feeding, and 

slaughter swine are sold in accordance with Federal interstate regulations and 

applicable provisions of these Program Standards. 

Approved differential pseudorabies test

Any test for the diagnosis of pseudorabies that: 

1. Can distinguish vaccinated swine from infected swine; and 

2. Is produced under license from the Secretary of Agriculture with indications for use 

in the Cooperative State–Federal–Industry Pseudorabies Eradication Program; and 

3. Is conducted in a laboratory approved by the Administrator. 

Approved feeder-pig market

A livestock market selling feeder pigs in which no animals from known infected herds 

are accepted for sale on the same day, in accordance with Federal interstate 

regulations and applicable provisions of these Program Standards: 

1. All swine must originate in a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd; or 

2. All swine must originate from a State that has achieved Pseudorabies Eradication 

Program status of Stage III, IV, or V; or 

3. All swine must originate in a pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig herd; or 

4. All swine are found negative to an official pseudorabies test conducted 30 days or 

less prior to presentation at the market. In a herd of single-source pigs in which no 

sows remain, the State Veterinarian may require a negative test of an official 

random sample (95/5) of the remaining pigs before sale. 

5. Cleaning and disinfection must be done after all other classes of swine have been 

removed and before feeder pigs are offered for sale. 

6. Additional requirements may be imposed as deemed necessary by the State 

Veterinarian to limit the possibility of disease spread through the market. 

 

Approved slaughter market 

A livestock market approved by the Administrator that accepts and releases only 
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shipments of slaughter swine, in accordance with applicable State and Federal 

regulations. No swine may be released from an approved slaughter market unless 

consigned directly to another approved slaughter market, a recognized slaughtering 

establishment for immediate slaughter, or a quarantined feedlot. 

Breeding herd

All swine on a premises that are 6 months of age or older, and that are used or intended 

to be used for breeding. 

Certificate

An official document issued for and prior to interstate movement of swine not known to 

be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies by a Veterinary Services representative, a 

State representative, or an accredited veterinarian, which states: (1) the number and 

description of the swine to be moved; (2) the swine to be moved are not known to be 

infected with or exposed to pseudorabies virus; (3) the purpose for which the swine are 

to be moved; (4) the points of origin and destination; (5) the consignor and consignee; 

and (6) additional information as required by applicable State and Federal laws and 

regulations. 

Commercial production swine

Those swine that are continuously managed and have adequate facilities and practices 

to prevent exposure to either transitional production or feral swine. 

Common ground

The ground, areas, buildings, and equipment commonly shared by any specific group or 

groups of livestock. 

Confirmed case

Any animal determined to be infected with pseudorabies virus by an official 

pseudorabies epidemiologist whose diagnosis is supported by official pseudorabies test 

results. 

Deputy Administrator

The Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, APHIS, USDA, or any other Veterinary 

Services official to whom authority has been delegated to act in his or her stead. 

Direct shipment

Movement without unloading en route, without contact with swine of lesser 

pseudorabies status, and without contact with infected or exposed livestock. 

Exposed livestock

Any livestock that have been in contact with an animal infected with pseudorabies virus, 

including all livestock in a known infected herd. (Livestock other than swine that have 

not been exposed to a clinical case of pseudorabies for the last 10 consecutive days 

shall no longer be considered to be exposed.) 
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Exposed swine

Any swine that have been in contact with an animal infected with pseudorabies virus, 

including all swine in a known infected herd. 

Farm of origin

A farm where swine were born or on which they have resided for at least 90 consecutive 

days immediately prior to movement. 

Feral or wild swine

Those swine that are free roaming. 

Infected livestock

Any livestock determined to be infected with pseudorabies virus by an official 

pseudorabies epidemiologist whose diagnosis is supported by official pseudorabies test 

results. 

Interstate

From any State into or through any other State. 

Intrastate

Within a State. 

Isolation

Separation of swine by a physical barrier in such a manner that one pig does not have 

access to the isolated pig’s body, excrement, or discharges of another pig; does not 

share a building with a common ventilation system; and is not within 10 feet of another 

pig. 

Known infected herd

Any herd in which any swine have been determined to be infected with pseudorabies 

virus by an official pseudorabies epidemiologist. 

Licensed pseudorabies virus vaccine

Any pseudorabies virus vaccine produced under license from the Secretary of 

Agriculture under the Virus–Serum–Toxin Act of March 4, 1913, and any legislation 

amendatory thereof (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.). 

Livestock

Swine, cattle, sheep, and goats. 

Monitored negative feral swine population

Feral swine originating from areas that have been geographically defined and under 

continuous surveillance with no evidence of infection and classified by the pseudorabies 
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epidemiologist as a monitored negative feral swine population. 

Moved

Shipped, transported, or otherwise moved; or delivered or received for movement by 

land, water, or air. 

National Pseudorabies Control Board

A board that reviews requests by States for pseudorabies eradication program status 

according to the Program Standards and makes recommendations to the APHIS, 

Veterinary Services, for program stage designation. Currently, this is a six-member 

board composed of two representatives each from the United States Animal Health 

Association, the National Pork Board, and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture 

(formerly the Livestock Conservation Institute), appointed by the respective presidents 

of those organizations. 

Official pseudorabies epidemiologist

A State or Federal veterinarian designated by the State animal health official and 

veterinarian in charge to investigate and diagnose suspected pseudorabies in livestock. 

 The official pseudorabies epidemiologist is expected to have had special training in the 

diagnosis and epidemiology of pseudorabies which will provide the unique qualifications 

demanded by the position. 

Official pseudorabies herd-cleanup plan

A written plan to eliminate pseudorabies virus from a swine herd. This plan is (1) 

developed by an official pseudorabies epidemiologist in consultation with the herd 

owner and his or her veterinary practitioner, when applicable; (2) mutually acceptable to 

those parties; and (3) approved by the State animal health official. 

Official pseudorabies serologic test

Any official test approved by the Administrator for diagnosis of pseudorabies in swine, 

conducted in a laboratory approved by the Administrator, and listed in Section 9 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 85.1, to determine the presence or absence of 

pseudorabies antibodies. 

Official pseudorabies test

Any test for the diagnosis of pseudorabies approved by the Administrator, conducted in 

a laboratory approved by the Administrator, and listed in 9 CFR, Part 85.1. 

Official random-sample test (95/20)

A sampling procedure utilizing official pseudorabies serologic tests which provides a 95-

percent probability of detecting infection in a herd in which at least 20 percent of the 

swine are seropositive for pseudorabies. Each segregated group of swine on an 

individual premises must be considered a separate herd and sampled as follows: 

Up to 14 head—test all. 

 Over 14 head—test 14. 
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Official random-sample test (95/10)

A sampling procedure utilizing official pseudorabies serologic tests which provides a 

95-percent probability of detecting infection in a herd in which at least 10 percent of the 

swine are seropositive for pseudorabies. Each segregated group of swine on an 

individual premises must be considered a separate herd and sampled as follows: 

 Less than 100 head—test 25 

 100–200 head—test 27 

 201–999 head—test 28 

 1,000 and over—test 29 

Official random-sample test (95/5)

A sampling procedure utilizing official pseudorabies serologic tests which provides a 

95-percent probability of detecting infection in a herd in which at least 5 percent of the 

swine are seropositive for pseudorabies. Each segregated group of swine on an 

individual premises must be considered a separate herd and sampled as follows: 

 Less than 100 head—test 45 

 100–200 head—test 51 

 201–999 head—test 57 

 1,000 and over—test 59 

Permit

An official document issued for and prior to the interstate shipment of pseudorabiesvirus-infected or -exposed swine by a Veterinary Services representative, State 

representative, or accredited veterinarian, stating: (1) the number of swine to be moved, 

(2) the purpose for which the swine are to be moved, (3) the points of origin and 

destination, (4) the consignor and consignee, and (5) additional information required by 

applicable State and Federal regulations. 

Prevalence

The number of known infected herds in the State as of the date of the application for 

Stage III status, divided by the number of swine herds in the State as determined by the 

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). When a State has conducted a 

down-the-road survey of all swine producers, the swine population data so developed 

may be used rather than the NASS data. 

Pseudorabies

The contagious, infectious, and communicable disease of livestock and other animals 

also known as Aujeszky's disease. 

Pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig herd

For the purpose of this document, “pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig herd,”

“pseudorabies-monitored vaccinated feeder-pig herd,” “pseudorabies-monitored herd,”

and “monitored herd” are interchangeable, and all refer to a swine herd that is in 

compliance with Part IV, Subpart III, of this document. 
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Pseudorabies-restricted feeder-pig market

A market specifically designated by the State animal health official to handle shipments 

of feeder pigs from premises under pseudorabies quarantine. Sales are limited to 

quarantined feedlots. Pseudorabies-restricted feeder-pig markets are restricted to 

handling intrastate shipments of pseudorabies-quarantined swine only. 

Pseudorabies virus vaccinates

Any swine that have been vaccinated with a USDA-licensed pseudorabies vaccine. 

Quarantined feedlot

A premises where pseudorabies-virus-infected or -exposed swine are fed under the 

supervision and control of the State animal health official and from which swine are 

moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment or directly through no more 

than one slaughter market and then directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment. 

Quarantined herd

A herd in which pseudorabies-virus-infected or -exposed swine are bred, reared, or fed 

under the supervision and control of the State animal health official and from which 

swine are moved directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment, 

pseudorabies-restricted feeder-pig market, quarantined feedlot, or directly through no 

more than two slaughter markets and then directly to a recognized slaughtering 

establishment or quarantined feedlot. 

Recognized slaughtering establishment

A slaughtering establishment operated under the provisions of the Federal Meat 

Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or a State-inspected slaughtering establishment. 

State/Area

Any State or Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, 

or the Northern Mariana Islands, or any portion of a State which meets the following 

criteria: 

1. All counties whose pseudorabies eradication status is in the same Stage must be 

contiguous. 

2. There shall be no more than two Stages in any State. 

3. Only the following combinations of status will be permitted within a State: Stages II 

and III, Stages III and IV. 

4. The surveillance system required for Stages III and IV must differentiate between 

animals and/or herds from areas with different status. 

State animal health official

The State official who is responsible for the livestock and poultry disease control and 

eradication programs in the official's State/Area, or that person's designated 

representative. 
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State pseudorabies committee 

An appointed advisory committee composed of swine producers, animal scientists, 

State and Federal regulatory officials, and other representatives of the swine industry. 

The responsibilities of the committee include: 

A. Informing and educating all segments of the State/Area swine industry regarding 

pseudorabies eradication activities. 

B. Reviewing the State/Area pseudorabies eradication program and making 

recommendations to State and Federal animal health officials and, as appropriate, 

consulting with State officials in the areas of: 

1. Budgeting; 

2. Intrastate and interstate regulations, including use of vaccine; 

3. Progress through the Program Stages. 

C. Maintaining liaison with other States and with the national pseudorabies eradication 

program through the National Pork Board, the United States Animal Health 

Association, the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, and APHIS. 

State representative

A person regularly employed in animal health work by a State and authorized by the 

State to perform the functions involved or under a cooperative agreement with USDA. 

Surveillance index

Refers to the percentage of a population of sows and boars sampled, multiplied by the 

percentage of positive swine traced to the farm of origin. When no positive swine are 

found, then the surveillance index will be the percentage of a population of sows and 

boars sampled. 

Only two specific forms of surveillance testing may be included in the surveillance index 

calculations: 

1. Samples collected at slaughter. 

2. Samples collected at markets (first point). 

Unless cull sows and boars from herds tested for other purposes (e.g., feeder-pig 

monitoring, circle testing, etc.) can be eliminated from the population being tested at 

slaughter or first point—in which case the number of sows in such herds can be 

deducted from the population to be used for surveillance—data of the following types 

may not be included in surveillance index calculations: 

1. Data from samples collected for epidemiologic purposes (e.g., circle testing, tracing 

into or out of infected herds); 

2. Data from status testing (e.g., tests to establish qualified-negative herd status, 

qualified-negative vaccinated herd status, or feeder-pig-monitored herd status; or 

testing for sale and show). 
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The percentages of the breeding population in a State/Area to be tested annually to 

meet the surveillance requirements for Stages III, IV, and V apply regardless of whether 

the surveillance is conducted at slaughter, at first point, or as part of a down-the-road 

(area) testing program. Whichever system is used must be random and must be 

representative of all herds of unknown status in the State/Area. 

Randomness of slaughter, first-point, or onfarm (area) surveillance testing must be 

documented in applications for status. 

Swine Health Committee, National Pork Board

A committee of pork producers, constituted as determined by the National Pork Board 

and calling on such scientific experts as needed, which shall review the national 

Pseudorabies Eradication Program and the expenditure of Federal funds for the 

Program at least annually. The committee will also review, in advance, allocations of 

Federal funds for any national surveillance program to the various States and make 

recommendations to the Deputy Administrator of Veterinary Services, APHIS, as it 

deems appropriate. 

Swine not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies virus

All swine except those which are part of a known infected herd or are known to have 

been exposed to pseudorabies virus. 

Transitional production swine

Those feral swine that are captive or swine that have reasonable opportunities to be 

exposed to feral swine. 

Veterinarian-in-Charge

The veterinary official of Veterinary Services, APHIS, USDA, who is assigned by the 

Administrator to supervise and perform APHIS' official animal health work in the 

State/Area concerned. 

Veterinary Services

The Veterinary Services branch of APHIS, USDA. 

Veterinary Services representative

A person employed by Veterinary Services, APHIS, USDA, who is authorized to perform 

official pseudorabies eradication activities. 

Part II—Administrative Procedures

A. Supervision of the Cooperative State–Federal–Industry Pseudorabies 

Eradication Program

The Cooperative State–Federal–Industry Pseudorabies Eradication Program (hereafter 
13 

called "the Program") must be supervised by full-time animal health veterinarians 

employed by the State or Federal Government. 

B. Entering premises

Persons working for the Program must be authorized by the State to enter premises to 

carry out Program policy. While on such premises, they must use commonly accepted 

sanitary and biosecurity procedures to minimize the risk of physically transmitting 

diseases among groups of livestock on the farm being investigated, as well as to other 

premises. 

C. Providing services to livestock owners

Owners are responsible for handling their animals. Program administrators may 

contract with accredited veterinarians, paraprofessionals, other State and Federal 

agencies, or with the management of privately owned firms as needed, to assist State 

and Federal animal health personnel in collecting blood or tissue samples, in identifying 

animals, and in performing other Program activities. 

D. Notifying the community of pseudorabies-virus-infected herds and 

quarantined feedlots

State or Federal Program officials should notify swine owners in the immediate 

community within 30 days after a swine herd has been quarantined for pseudorabies. 

Program officials should also notify herd owners in the immediate community when they 

grant approval for a quarantined feedlot. Notification may be by an educational letter 

emphasizing the importance of taking appropriate actions to protect swine against 

pseudorabies. When the herd quarantine is released or the approval of the quarantined 

feedlot is terminated, herd owners should be notified within 30 days by an informational 

letter. 

E. Dealers—Registration and Recordkeeping

The following dealers (individuals or other legal entities) of swine must be registered or 

licensed with the appropriate State agency: 

• Dealers who purchase, deal in, or sell swine; 

• Dealers who act as commission representatives or brokers; 

• Dealers who operate and conduct an auction where swine are sold. 

These dealers must maintain records required by the licensing agency to make it 

possible for State authorities to trace swine to their herds of origin or destination. 

1. Registering dealers—After giving due notice and opportunity for a hearing to the 

dealer involved, the State agency must have the authority to deny an 

application for registration, or to suspend or cancel the registration, when the 
14 

agency is satisfied of either or both of the following: 

a. There is adequate evidence to establish that the dealer had the intent to 

violate or circumvent recordkeeping requirements of this section and/or 

other animal health regulations; 

b. The dealer has repeatedly demonstrated failure to keep records adequate 

to trace his swine sales and purchases. 

2. Keeping records—Each registered or licensed swine dealer must keep sufficient 

records of all swine purchased for resale to enable the State agency to trace 

purchased animals satisfactorily to their herds of origin and destination. The 

records must be kept for a minimum of 2 years. 

3. Dealing with violations—State animal health officials must have the authority to 

enforce compliance with dealer registration and recordkeeping requirements. 

This includes the authority to subpoena appropriate records and/or persons who 

allegedly violate these minimum standards. The appropriate State officials must 

also have authority to petition the local court that has venue for an order to 

enforce these subpoenas. 

F. Administrative review of Program activities

Appropriate Veterinary Services personnel will review the progress of State/Area 

pseudorabies programs on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with the Program 

Standards. 

G. Application for Program status

Application for Program entry and advancement in status, jointly signed by the State 

animal health official and Veterinarian-in-Charge, along with required documentation, 

must be submitted to the Veterinary Services National Center for Animal Health 

Programs, Pseudorabies Eradication Program staff for approval. The application shall 

be reviewed by the National Pseudorabies Control Board prior to a final decision by the 

Deputy Administrator. 

H. Other movements

The State Veterinarian may, upon request in specific cases, permit the movement of 

livestock not otherwise provided for in these Program Standards to prevent the spread 

of pseudorabies virus. It is the intention of these Standards that such authority be used 

only in situations and under circumstances that could not have been reasonably 

anticipated in advance. It is not the intention that such authority be used repeatedly to 

cover the same problem, but that the Program Standards be amended to conform with 

needed changes as they come to light. 
15 

I. Changes to the Program Standards

All proposed changes to Program Standards must first be reviewed and approved by 

the Pseudorabies Program Standards Committee, a subcommittee of the United States 

Animal Health Association (USAHA) Pseudorabies Committee. Proposed changes 

must then be reviewed and approved by the full USAHA Pseudorabies Committee 

during the annual USAHA meeting. Proposed changes that are approved by the 

USAHA Pseudorabies Committee and included in the Pseudorabies Committee report 

will be forwarded as a recommendation for final approval to Veterinary Services, 

National Center for Animal Health Programs staff. 

Part III—Program Stages and Requirements

Stage I—Preparation 

This is the initial Program stage in which the basic procedures to control and eradicate 

pseudorabies are developed. 

A. To qualify for Stage I recognition, the application for Program status shall 

provide documentation that the following standards are met:

1. A State pseudorabies committee has been formed and is functioning; 

2. Plans are formulated for a reliable system of determining pseudorabies 

prevalence in the State/Area swine population, which may include: 

a. Mandatory reporting of suspected pseudorabies by producers, 

veterinarians, and laboratories; 

b. Change-of-ownership test requirements; 

c. Collection of blood samples from sows and boars at swine markets, 

slaughter establishments, or farms. Emphasis is given to pseudorabies 

testing of blood samples that are collected for other purposes, e.g., 

brucellosis validation, disease diagnosis, exhibition requirements, etc. 

3. State officials and/or industry representatives have, or are actively seeking, 

legislative and regulatory authority to: 

a. Participate in the Cooperative State–Federal–Industry Pseudorabies 

Eradication Program; 

b. Require reporting of suspected pseudorabies by producers, veterinarians, 
16 

and laboratories to the State animal health official; 

c. Conduct diagnostic and epidemiologic investigations of suspected 

pseudorabies; 

d. Quarantine premises on which pseudorabies is confirmed; 

e. Trace purchases and sales of swine to and from quarantined premises and 

inspect and collect diagnostic specimens from such swine; 

f. Regulate shipments of breeding swine, feeder pigs, and slaughter swine 

within and into the State; 

g. Control the use of pseudorabies virus vaccines; 

h. Control disposal of dead animals. 

4. A system for distribution of Program literature to producers and other interested 

groups is developed and functioning. 

5. Applicable Federal pseudorabies regulations are enforced. 

6. A State progress report will be produced monthly. 

The States will prepare a monthly report of pseudorabies eradication activities and 

submit it to Veterinary Services for tabulation and distribution in a national Program 

progress report. Veterinary Services shall make reports as requested and at least 

annually to the Oversight Committee, National Pork Board, on Program progress, 

Program operation, and use of Federal funds, including, but not limited to, the operation 

of any national slaughter surveillance program. 

B. Duration of status

Twenty-four to 28 months following assignment of Stage I status by Veterinary Services, 

a State must (1) indicate that it continues to meet the Stage I requirements, utilizing the 

same certification procedures as followed initially, or (2) certify that it meets the 

requirements of a subsequent Program Stage. States failing to recertify as required will 

automatically lose their Stage I status. 

Stage II—Control

In this stage, a State will continue to participate with Veterinary Services on a 

cooperative basis. The goals of this stage are to determine which herds are infected 

with pseudorabies virus and to begin herd cleanup. 
17 

A. To qualify for Stage II recognition, the application for Program status shall 

provide documentation that the following standards are met:

1. Stage I standards have been implemented. 

2. A surveillance program plus circle-testing 1.5 miles around all newly identified 

infected herds has been implemented to find additional infected herds. This 

surveillance should be based on testing sows and boars at slaughter, on the 

farm, or at first point of concentration. 

3. States/Areas must have acquired the authority to require herd-cleanup plans on 

all known infected herds before the States/Areas can apply for a subsequent 

Program Stage or reapply for status in Stage II. 

4. Swine movements into the State/Area are controlled as follows: 

a. Breeding swine not known to be infected or exposed to pseudorabies virus 

must: 

(1) Be negative to an official pseudorabies serologic test within 30 days 

prior to interstate shipment; or 

(2) Originate in a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd; or 

(3) Originate in a qualified pseudorabies-negative gene-altered 

vaccinated herd; or 

(4) Be shipped directly from the farm of origin in a Stage IV or Free State; 

or 

(5) Originate in a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd or be negative to 

an official pseudorabies serologic test within 30 days prior to sale at 

an approved all-class market and be released under State quarantine 

for isolation and retest in 30–60 days at the importer's expense. 

b. Feeder pigs not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies virus 

and not mingled with or exposed to swine of lesser or unknown status must: 

(1) Be negative to an official pseudorabies serologic test within 30 days 

prior to interstate shipment; or 

(2) Originate in a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd; or 

(3) Originate in a qualified pseudorabies-negative gene-altered 
18 

vaccinated herd; or 

(4) Originate in a pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig herd; or 

(5) Be shipped directly from the farm of origin in a Stage III, IV, or Free 

State; or 

(6) Be sold at an approved all-class market or approved slaughter market 

and imported for feeding in a quarantined feedlot; or 

(7) Be sold at an approved feeder-pig market and imported for feeding 

without restriction. 

c. Slaughter hogs: 

(1) Swine not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies may 

move as follows: 

(a) Directly to a recognized slaughter establishment; or 

(b) Directly to an approved slaughter market or approved all-class 

market and then directly to another approved slaughter market 

or a recognized slaughter establishment or quarantined feedlot; 

or 

(c) Directly to an approved slaughter market and then to a 

quarantined feedlot. 

(2) Virus-infected or -exposed swine may move directly to a recognized 

slaughter establishment or directly to no more than two approved 

slaughter markets and then directly to a recognized slaughter 

establishment when 

(a) The carrier transporting pseudorabies-virus-infected or -exposed 

slaughter swine is cleaned and disinfected before it is used to 

transport nonslaughter swine or feedstuffs within the following 30 

days; and 

(b) Additional State-of-destination swine-identification requirements 

and regulations are followed; and 

(c) Quarantined swine are accompanied by a shipping permit (VS 

Form 1–27) and are conveyed in sealed vehicles. 

d. Interstate movements of swine from infected herds in multisite production 
19 

systems must be made as part of a herd-cleanup plan approved by the 

State Veterinarians of the originating and recipient States. 

5. Intrastate movements are controlled as necessary to meet State needs. 

Movement of quarantined swine between multiple-site production units may be 

approved under the following guidelines: (1) The breeding herds must be 

vaccinated at least twice a year with a differentiable virus vaccine; (2) 

Movement of breeding stock, either from one site to another or from the final 

site, shall be intrastate only; (3) Such movement shall be part of a 

State-approved cleanup plan that will provide a maximum of 18 months for 

elimination of the virus from the infected breeding herd; (4) Progeny shall be 

tested monthly; (5) Before movement of progeny as breeding stock, 100 

percent of the progeny must be tested. 

6. Transmission of pseudorabies virus from wild or feral swine shall be controlled 

as follows: 

a. Any swine that have had known exposure to wild or feral swine must be 

separated from wild or feral swine and quarantined until released in 

accordance with Part IV, subpart IV. 

b. Wild or feral swine may be moved to immediate slaughter. Movement to 

hunting preserves or game farms is not classified as shipment to slaughter. 

c. Wild or feral swine moved to hunting preserves or game farms, or for 

exhibition, or feeding, must test negative on an official pseudorabies test 

conducted within 30 days prior to shipment under permit of the State animal 

health official. 

d. Wild or feral swine moved for breeding purposes must be held separate and 

apart from all swine for 90 days and must test negative on two official 

pseudorabies tests conducted at least 60 days apart. 

B. Disposition of quarantined herds

Owners of quarantined herds must complete their cleanup plans and fulfill the 

requirements for quarantine release as follows: 

Quarantines issued before January 1, 1997, must be released by January 1, 1999. 

Quarantines issued during 1997 must be released within 24 months from the quarantine 

date. 

Quarantines issued after January 1, 1998, must be released by January 1, 2000. 
20 

These time frames must be included in all herd-cleanup plans. 

C. Duration of status

Twelve to 14 months following assignment of Stage II status by Veterinary Services, a 

State/Area must (1) certify that it meets the requirements of a higher Program Stage; or 

(2) indicate that it continues to meet Stage II requirements, utilizing the same 

certification procedure as followed initially; and (3) demonstrate progress in herd 

cleanup consistent with the goal of eradication by the year 2000 by, at a minimum, 

meeting the following provisions: (A) herd-cleanup plans written on all herds within 30 

days of quarantine; (B) all herd plans reviewed semiannually and revised as necessary; 

(C) all quarantined breeding herds must be tested by a whole-herd test every 30 days. 

All sows and boars testing positive for pseudorabies virus must be removed for 

slaughter or isolation for slaughter within 15 days after test results are reported; (D) all 

quarantined continuous-flow finishing sites must be tested every 45 days with an official 

random sample test (95/10). If two consecutive tests detect pigs positive for 

pseudorabies virus, no additions of swine may be made to the premises until the 

quarantine is released; (E) unless otherwise determined by the State Veterinarian and 

the pseudorabies epidemiologist, all swine in quarantined herds and all swine in herds 

located within 2 miles of a quarantined herd must be vaccinated for pseudorabies. 

States failing to recertify as required will be reviewed by the National Pseudorabies 

Control Board and may lose their Stage II status. 

Stage III—Mandatory Herd Cleanup

In this stage, the cleanup of infected herds becomes mandatory. The State 

pseudorabies committee shall provide time limits for developing and completing official 

pseudorabies herd-cleanup plans in conformity with Section C. An official pseudorabies 

epidemiologist will consult with the herd owner and his or her veterinary practitioner, 

when applicable, to develop a mutually acceptable official pseudorabies herd-cleanup. 

This plan should be based on the strategies outlined in the Livestock Conservation 

Institute's Swine Pseudorabies Eradication Guidelines. The attending accredited 

veterinarian should play a major role in selecting and implementing herd-cleanup plans. 

 Pseudorabies prevalence in the affected community must be determined for all groups 

of swine, including swine in feedlots. 

A. To qualify for Stage III recognition, the application for Program status shall 

provide documentation as follows:

1. The standards of Stage II are implemented and, with the endorsement of the 

State pseudorabies committee, the State animal health official is implementing 

mandatory herd-cleanup procedures. 
21 

2. Epidemiology 

a. Swine movements into and out of infected premises or premises suspected 

of being infected are traced, and the status of receiving and source herds is 

appropriately established by either a test of all breeding swine or an official 

random-sample test. 

b. All swine units, including feedlots within a 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) radius of 

infected premises, are monitored either by a test of all breeding swine or by 

an official random-sample test. 

c. The State prevalence of infected herds is 1 percent or less, based on 

surveillance testing that meets the requirements of section 3, below. 

3. Surveillance 

a. Surveillance by slaughter or first-point testing: 

At least 10 percent of the breeding swine population is surveyed annually 

using an official pseudorabies serologic test with at least 80-percent 

successful traceback of seropositives to the farm of origin, or testing and 

traceback to achieve a surveillance index of 0.08. Current data from the 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, on breeding swine 

populations will be used to calculate surveillance data. The surveillance 

program must be random and must be representative of all herds in the 

State. Tests of swine from premises currently known to be infected may not 

be included in totals to meet the requirements of this section. 

Only two specific forms of surveillance testing may be included in the 

surveillance index calculation: (1) samples collected at slaughter, and (2) 

samples collected at markets (first point). 

If sows and boars from herds tested for other purposes (e.g., feeder-pig 

monitoring, circle testing, etc.) can be eliminated from the population being 

tested at slaughter or first point, then the number of sows in such herds can 

be deducted from the population to be sampled for surveillance. 

Applications for status for States/Areas taking advantage of this provision 

must explain how this is being accomplished. 

b. Surveillance by herd testing: 

If an official random sample test (95/10) or a monitored herd test is used, 25 

percent of the herds or 10 percent of the breeding swine in the Stage III 

area must be tested annually. 
22 

If an official random-sample test (95/20) is used, 33 percent of the herds in 

the Stage III area must be tested annually. 

Herds to be tested must be selected randomly during the surveillance 

period. Herds are eligible for selection when more than 12 months have 

elapsed since the last herd test. Quarantined herds are not eligible for 

selection. 

4. Vaccination 

Vaccination may be permitted by the State animal health official as part of an 

approved herd-cleanup plan and in area control programs. 

5. Transmission of pseudorabies virus from wild or feral swine shall be controlled 

as follows: 

Regulations to prevent virus transmission from wild or feral to domestic swine 

within the State are implemented. 

B. During Stage III:

1. Information and education efforts are intensified. 

2. The effectiveness of regulations is monitored, and enforcement is strengthened 

as necessary. 

3. Industry commitment for Program advancement is secured. 

4. Epidemiologic evaluation of Program activities is utilized. 

5. Swine may not be moved from a quarantined herd to any location within a 

Stage III area unless part of the herd was at this location when the original herd 

quarantine was issued or such movement is required as part of an approved 

herd-cleanup plan. 

C. Disposition of quarantined herds

Owners of quarantined herds must complete their cleanup plans and fulfill the 

requirements for quarantine release as follows: 

Quarantines issued before January 1, 1997, must be released by January 1, 

1999. 

Quarantines issued during 1997 must be released within 24 months from the 

quarantine date. 
23 

Quarantines issued after January 1, 1998, must be released by January 1, 

2000. 

These time frames must be included in all herd-cleanup plans. 

D. Duration of status

Twelve to 14 months following assignment of Stage III status by Veterinary Services, a 

State/Area must (1) certify that it meets the requirements of a higher program stage, or 

(2) indicate that it continues to meet Stage III requirements, utilizing the same 

certification procedure as followed initially, and demonstrate progress in herd cleanup 

consistent with the goal of eradication by the year 2000, by, at a minimum, meeting the 

following provisions: (A) herd-cleanup plans written on all herds within 30 days of 

quarantine; (B) all herd plans reviewed semiannually and revised as necessary; (C) all 

quarantined breeding herds must be tested by a whole-herd test every 30 days. All 

sows and boars testing positive for pseudorabies virus must be removed for slaughter 

or isolation for slaughter within 15 days after test results are reported; (D) all 

quarantined continuous-flow finishing sites must be tested every 45 days with an official 

random sample test (95/10). If two consecutive tests detect pigs positive for 

pseudorabies virus, no additions of swine may be made to the premises until the 

quarantine is released; (E) unless otherwise determined by the State Veterinarian and 

the pseudorabies epidemiologist, all swine in quarantined herds and all swine in herds 

located within 2 miles of a quarantined herd must be vaccinated for pseudorabies. 

States failing to recertify as required will be reviewed by the National Pseudorabies 

Control Board and may lose their Stage III status. 

In the event that the prevalence of infected herds exceeds 1 percent at any time during 

the recertification period, the national coordinator for Veterinary Services shall be 

notified immediately. Such notification shall be followed by a written explanation for 

review and consideration by the National Pseudorabies Control Board. 

Stage IV—Surveillance

To qualify for Stage IV recognition, the following requirements shall be met: 

A. The application for Program status shall demonstrate that the standards of 

Stage III are in effect and shall document that:

1. There is no known infection in the State/Area and the surveillance program 

required for Stage III has been in effect for at least 2 years. 

2. The State/Area has and enforces regulatory authority requiring farm-of-origin 

identification of cull sows and boars. 
24 

3. No new cases of pseudorabies were confirmed during the year prior to 

application for Stage IV status, except as follows: In the event of an isolated 

case, application for Stage IV status may be made if the affected herd was 

disposed of within 15 days after test results were reported with no spread to 

additional premises as determined by testing of all exposed herds and all swine 

herds within 2 miles of the new case with an official random sample test (95/5). 

 Testing of the above herds must be accomplished, with negative results, no 

earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after cleanup. 

4. States must develop and adopt a management plan that adequately separates 

and addresses controls of the interface of feral and transitional production 

swine with commercial production swine. The plan is to be reviewed by the 

Control Board and Veterinary Services, National Center for Animal Health 

Programs staff. 

B. Surveillance of breeding herds must be continued at the same rate required 

for Stage III.

C. Certification, with respect to feedlots on premises on which there are no 

breeding animals, must show that: 

1. Such feedlots have been included in a down-the-road herd-testing program, or 

2. Such herds will be monitored by slaughter or first-point surveillance of butcher 

hogs, or 

3. During the period since the last case in a State/Area has been cleaned up, such 

herds 

a. Have been negative to an official random-sample test (95/10) as defined in 

these Standards, or 

b. Have undergone a 30-day depopulation with appropriate cleaning and 

disinfection. 

4. Any feedlots not tested under the provisions of this part must be operated all-in 

and all-out by premises. 

D. Vaccination is prohibited except by permission of the State animal health 

official in high-risk herds or as part of an approved herd-cleanup plan.

E. Swine import requirements shall be as follows:

1. Slaughter swine 
25 

a. Infected or exposed swine may be shipped through or into a Stage IV 

State/Area with prior written approval from the State Veterinarian and must 

move directly to a recognized slaughter establishment. Such swine must 

be accompanied by a shipping permit (VS Form 1–27), be conveyed in 

sealed vehicles, and be unloaded under the supervision of State or Federal 

officials to ensure that biosecurity measures are observed. 

b. Imports of slaughter swine from States or Areas with a Program status up to 

and including Stage III are permitted to a recognized slaughter 

establishment or an approved slaughter market only. 

2. Breeding swine 

a. Direct shipment from a Stage IV or V State/Area, or 

b. Direct shipment from a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd in any 

State/Area, or 

c. Negative official pseudorabies serologic test within 30 days prior to 

shipment with quarantine, isolation, and retest at destination in 30–60 days 

following importation. 

3. Feeder pigs 

a. Direct shipment from a farm of origin or a market in a Stage IV or V 

State/Area, or 

b. Direct shipment from a farm of origin in a Stage III State/Area, or 

c. Direct shipment from a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd or qualifiednegative gene-altered vaccinated herd, or 

d. Entry is allowed into Stage IV States/Areas from feeder-pig-monitored 

herds in Stage II States or from approved feeder-pig markets under the 

following conditions: 

(1) That the swine enter on permit directly to a designated feedlot; 

(2) That the swine be restricted to the designated feedlot until they are 

sent to slaughter. 

F. Intrastate swine movements—no restrictions.

G. Duration of status
26 

Twelve to 14 months following assignment of Stage IV status by Veterinary 

Services, a State/Area must (1) indicate that it continues to meet the Stage IV 

requirements, utilizing the same certification procedures as followed initially, or (2) 

certify that it meets the requirements of another Program Stage. States/Areas 

failing to recertify as required will automatically lose their Stage IV status. 

In the event of a confirmed case of pseudorabies in commercial production swine, 

the national program coordinator for Veterinary Services shall be notified 

immediately, and the county or counties within a 2-mile radius of the new case will 

revert to Stage III status (except as noted below) until 60 days following cleanup 

and quarantine release. During the 60 days following quarantine release, and 

before Stage IV status is reinstated, all exposed herds and all swine herds within 2 

miles of the new case must be tested with an official random sample test (95/5) and 

be found negative. 

The national pseudorabies coordinator and officials from the State where a 

confirmed case in commercial production swine occurs must notify all 50 states 

within 24 hours. Such notification is to include the location of the break and the 

circumstances surrounding the case, including herd size, clinical signs, and type of 

herd. 

Immediately after a confirmed case is identified in commercial production swine, all 

movement of swine from herds within a five-mile radius of the case and from 

exposed herds must be stopped until such herds are tested and found to be 

negative using an official random sample test (95/5). Testing must be completed 

within 15 days of identifying the infected herd. 

If one or more counties revert to Stage III, animal health officials from the State 

where a confirmed case occurs in commercial production swine must immediately 

notify producers and veterinarians that breeding swine from the affected counties 

must again be tested for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to interstate shipment. 

If the newly infected herd is isolated and disposed of within 15 days after test results 

are reported to State animal health officials, and there is no spread to additional 

premises as determined by testing of all exposed herds and all swine herds within 2 

miles of the new case with an official random sample test (95/5), Stage IV status 

may be maintained. Testing of the above herds must be accomplished, with 

negative results, no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after cleanup. 

Stage V—Free

This is the stage in which a State is declared pseudorabies free. 
27 

A. To qualify for this final surveillance stage, the application for Program status 

shall provide evidence that the State is implementing the standards of Stage 

IV.

B. In addition, the State must document that:

1. The State has been free of pseudorabies for 1 year since recognition of Stage 

IV status. 

2. Surveillance of breeding herds has been continued at one-half the rate required 

for Stage III and Stage IV. Once all States have achieved Stage IV or V status, 

surveillance will no longer be required to maintain Stage V status in states that 

have maintained Stage V status for five consecutive years, have had no 

confirmed cases of pseudorabies during the same period, and have 

demonstrated that no feral swine exist in the state. 

3. Swine imports are controlled as follows: 

a. Slaughter swine—same as Stage IV; 

b. Breeding swine—same as Stage IV; 

c. Feeder pigs—same as Stage IV. 

4. Vaccination is not permitted except by permit from the State Veterinarian in 

certain high-risk herds. 

5. Intrastate swine movements—no restrictions. 

6. States must develop and adopt a management plan that adequately separates 

and addresses controls of the interface of feral and transitional production 

swine with commercial production swine. The plan is to be reviewed by the 

Control Board and Veterinary Services, National Center for Animal Health 

Programs staff. 

C. Duration of status

Twelve to 14 months following assignment of Stage V status by Veterinary 

Services, a State/Area must indicate that it continues to meet Stage V 

requirements, utilizing the same certification as followed initially. States/Areas 

failing to recertify as required will automatically lose their Stage V status. 

In the event of a confirmed case of pseudorabies in commercial production swine, 

the national program coordinator for Veterinary Services shall be notified 
28 

immediately, and the county or counties within a 2-mile radius of the new case will 

revert to Stage III status (except as noted below) and all other counties in the State 

will revert to Stage IV status. Stage IV status for the affected county may be 

reinstated as outlined under Stage IV requirements. 

The national pseudorabies coordinator and officials from the State where a 

confirmed case in commercial production swine occurs must notify all 50 States 

within 24 hours. Such notification is to include the location of the break and the 

circumstances surrounding the case, including herd size, clinical signs, and type of 

herd. 

Immediately after a confirmed case is identified in commercial production swine, all 

movement of swine from herds within a five-mile radius of the case and from 

exposed herds must be stopped until such herds are tested and found to be 

negative using an official random sample test (95/5). Testing must be completed 

within 15 days of identifying the infected herd. 

If one or more counties revert to Stage III, officials from the state where a confirmed 

case occurs in commercial production swine must immediately notify producers and 

veterinarians that breeding swine from the affected counties must again be tested 

for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to interstate shipment. 

If the newly infected herd is isolated and disposed of within 15 days after test results 

are reported to the State animal health officials, and there is no spread to additional 

premises as determined by testing of all exposed herds and all swine herds within 2 

miles of the new case with an official random sample test (95/5), Stage V status 

may be maintained. Testing of the above herds must be accomplished, with 

negative results no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after cleanup. 

Part IV—Participation in Herd Plans and Release of Quarantines 

Subpart I—The Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative Herd 

A. Establishment of a qualified pseudorabies-negative (QN) breeding herd:

1. For breeding herds, QN status is attained by (1) subjecting to an official 

pseudorabies serologic test all swine over 6 months of age plus a number of 

progeny equal to 20 percent of the breeding swine population of the herd, and 

(2) finding that all swine are negative to the test. Progeny shall be randomly 

selected from swine between 4 and 6 months of age. The herd must not have 

been a known infected herd within the 30 days prior to the qualifying test. A 

minimum of 90 percent of the swine in the herd must have been on the 

premises and a part of the herd for at least 60 days prior to the qualifying official 

pseudorabies serologic test or have entered by direct shipment from another 
29 

QN herd. 

2. When all swine are shipped directly from existing QN herds, a new QN breeding 

herd may be established if, within 30 days of arrival, all swine in the initial 

shipment (up to 50 animals) are tested and found negative to an official 

pseudorabies serologic test. 

3. Any breeding herd in a Stage IV or V State/Area is recognized as a QN herd. 

B. QN breeding herd status may be maintained by monthly or quarterly 

pseudorabies testing as follows:

1. Monthly testing: 

a. Every 30 days, conduct an official pseudorabies serologic test of 7 percent 

of all breeding swine 6 months of age or older, and test a number of 

offspring 4 to 6 months of age located on the same premises as the 

breeding herd equal to 2 percent of the breeding animals in the herd, or 

b. On approval of the State Veterinarian, herds in Stage III, IV, or V 

States/Areas may maintain status on the basis of a monthly negative official 

random sample test (95/5) in each separate population of breeding swine 

on a premises, and a monthly test of 50 offspring 4 to 6 months of age 

located on the same premises as the breeding herd. Sampling in the 

population must be random and the testing protocol in the herd must be a 

part of the approval. Progeny must be selected at random from all groups 

on the premises. 

c. Progeny testing on multisite herds is covered in item D. on pages 25–26 

regarding establishment and maintenance of QN growout premises on 

which no adult breeding swine are maintained. 

2. Quarterly testing: 

a. Every 80 to 105 days, conduct an official pseudorabies serologic test of 20 

percent of all breeding swine 6 months of age or older, and test a number of 

offspring 4 to 6 months of age located on the same premises as the 

breeding herd equal to 6 percent of the breeding animals in the herd. 

b. Progeny testing on multisite herds is covered in item D. on pages 25–26 

regarding establishment and maintenance of QN growout premises on 

which no adult breeding swine are maintained. 

3. All swine tested shall be randomly selected and, in the case of the adult swine, 

representative of all age groups on the premises. 
30 

4. All swine intended to be added to a QN herd shall be isolated until they are 

negative to an official pseudorabies serologic test conducted 30 days or more 

following their placement in isolation except: 

a. Swine from a herd of unknown status must be negative to an official 

pseudorabies serologic test not more than 30 days prior to movement, with 

a second test in isolation at least 30 days after movement. 

b. Swine intended to augment a QN herd and coming directly from another 

QN herd may be added without isolation or testing. 

c. Swine intended to be added to a QN herd from another QN herd, but with 

interim contact with swine other than those from a QN herd, shall be 

isolated until they have been found negative to an official pseudorabies 

serologic test, conducted 30 days or more after the swine have been placed 

in isolation. 

C. Reestablishment of QN breeding herd status following confirmation of 

infection in the herd 

1. A QN herd that has been determined to be infected with pseudorabies virus 

may qualify for reinstatement as a QN herd if: 

a. All swine in the herd 6 months of age and over are negative to an official 

pseudorabies serologic test, and 

b. An official random-sample (95/10) test of progeny 2–6 months of age is 

conducted and all swine tested are negative, and 

c. In 30 or more days, the testing described in a and b above is repeated. 

2. If on a qualifying official pseudorabies serologic test or any subsequent official 

pseudorabies test, any swine test positive, QN herd status is suspended until 

the infection status of the herd is determined by an investigation conducted by 

an official pseudorabies epidemiologist. 

3. The official pseudorabies epidemiologist will consider the following factors in 

determining the presence or absence of pseudorabies in the herd: 

a. The specific titers of titered swine; 

b. The percentage and number of titered swine; 

c. The vaccination history of titered swine; 
31 

d. Proximity and pseudorabies virus infection status of neighboring herds; 

e. The possibility of laboratory or sample identification error; 

f. Other pertinent herd history and clinical signs. 

4. Based on the above information obtained by the official pseudorabies 

epidemiologist, a final determination of infection status will be made; however, 

before QN herd status may be attained or maintained, all seropositive swine 

must either: 

a. Be sold for slaughter, and a complete herd test conducted at least 30 days 

later must be negative; or 

b. Be negative to an official pseudorabies serologic test. 

D. Establishment and maintenance of QN growout premises on which no adult 

breeding swine are maintained:

Situation 1 

Herd A ---------------> Herd B ---------------> Herd C 

QN breeding herd(s) Growout Sales Point 

Situation 2 

Herd A --------------------------------------> Herd C 

QN breeding herd(s) Sales Point 

Pigs moved from herd(s) A within 1 week of weaning are not required to be 

pseudorabies tested. 

Herd B 

QN status may be attained and maintained by monthly negative official random sample 

tests (95/5) beginning within 30 days after establishment of the herd, except that in allin/all-out units, 1 test of 50 head is required of each group. If herds A, B, and C are in 

the same State and program stage, this testing is not required. 

Herd C 

QN status is attained by a negative official pseudorabies serologic test of the entire 

initial shipment or 50 head selected at random, whichever is less. 

QN status may be maintained by a monthly negative official pseudorabies serologic test 
32 

of 50 swine selected at random from those that have been in the herd at least 30 days, 

except that in all-in/all-out units, 1 test of 50 head is required of each group. Each 

segregated group of swine on an individual premises must be considered a separate 

herd. 

Subpart II—The Qualified-Negative Gene-Altered Vaccinated (QNV) Herd

Qualified-negative gene-altered vaccinated (QNV) herd status is attained and 

maintained under the same guidelines as for qualified pseudorabies-negative (QN) herd 

status, except that swine may be vaccinated with an approved gene-deleted 

pseudorabies virus vaccine, and testing may be completed using an official 

pseudorabies serologic test. 

Subpart III—The Pseudorabies-Monitored Feeder-Pig Herd 

A. Monitored status in Stage II States or Areas

1. For breeding herds, pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig status is attained when 

the herd has been sampled and was negative to an official pseudorabies 

serologic test during the last 12 months at the following rate: 

 10 head—test all 

11–35 head—test 10 

36 or more—test 30 percent or 30, whichever is less 

Tested breeding swine are to be selected at random from all age groups, 

including herd boars, and all age groups are to be proportionately represented. 

2. An offsite nursery that is not otherwise part of a pseudorabies-monitored herd, 

to which pigs have been moved within 1 week of weaning from pseudorabiesmonitored feeder-pig herds, may be recognized as a pseudorabies-monitored 

feeder-pig herd on the basis of a negative official random sample test (95/10) 

as determined by an official pseudorabies epidemiologist. The required tests 

must be conducted within 30 days prior to movement out of the offsite nursery. 

An official random sample test (95/10) as determined by an official 

pseudorabies epidemiologist must be conducted on each group of pigs moving 

through the offsite nursery. In the case of a continuous-flow facility, monthly 

tests (95/10) must be conducted. 

B. Monitored status in Stage III, IV, or V States or Areas

1. Any breeding herd in a Stage III, IV, or V State or Area not known to be infected 

is recognized as a pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig herd. 
33 

2. Offsite nurseries in Stage III, IV, or V States or Areas shall be recognized as 

pseudorabies-monitored feeder-pig herds if all pigs in the nurseries come from 

breeding herds in Stage III, IV, or V States or Areas. If part of the pigs in the 

offsite nursery originate from a Stage II area, the nursery must be tested as 

outlined in Part A of this section. 

C. Monitored status in the vaccinated swine breeding herd is attained and 

maintained as outlined in parts A and B of this section.

Subpart IV—Quarantine Release Procedures

A herd of swine shall no longer be classified as a known infected herd when no livestock 

or other animals on the premises show clinical signs of pseudorabies after removal of 

the positive swine, and at least one of the four following conditions has been met. 

Additionally, if the herd is vaccinated, all vaccinates must be vaccinated with the same 

official gene-altered pseudorabies virus vaccine. 

A. All swine were removed from the premises; the premises were cleaned and 

disinfected under official supervision with a disinfectant approved by 

Veterinary Services for such use; and the premises have been maintained free 

of swine for 30 days or a period of time determined adequate by an official 

pseudorabies epidemiologist. 

B. All swine positive to an official pseudorabies serologic test or an approved 

differential pseudorabies test have been removed from the premises and all 

remaining swine, except suckling pigs, were subjected to an official (or 

approved differential) pseudorabies serologic test and found negative 30 days 

or more after removal of all positive swine. 

C. All swine positive to an official pseudorabies serologic test or an approved 

differential pseudorabies test have been removed from the premises; all 

breeding swine that remain in the herd and an official random sample (95/10) 

of grower-finishing swine over 2 months of age are subjected to an official (or 

approved differential) pseudorabies serologic test and found negative 30 days 

or more after removal of positive swine. A second test of grower-finishing 

swine at least 30 days after the first is required if the State is in Stage III or IV 

of the Program. 

D. (Stage I, II, and III only) All swine present on the date the quarantine was 

imposed have been removed, and there have been no clinical signs in the 

herd for at least 6 months. Two successive official (or approved differential) 

random-sample (95/10) tests of the breeding herd [95/5 for Stage III States], 

conducted at least 90 days apart, have been determined by the official 

pseudorabies epidemiologist to reveal no infection, and two successive 
34 

official (or approved differential) random-sample (95/10) tests of progeny at 

least 4 months of age, conducted at least 90 days apart, are negative. Herds 

removed from quarantine by this provision are required to be negative by an 

official (or approved differential) random-sample (95/10) test 1 year after 

quarantine release. 

E. In nurseries or finishing herds without any breeding swine and where no pigs 

are received from quarantined premises, quarantines may be released as 

follows:

(1) A negative official random sample test (95/10), conducted at least 30 days 

following depopulation with cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of the premises and 

7 days’ down time, must be determined by the official pseudorabies 

epidemiologist to reveal no infection; or 

(2) A negative official random sample test (95/5), conducted at least 30 days 

following a negative official random sample test (95/10), must be determined by 

the official pseudorabies epidemiologist to reveal no infection. 

An official random sample test (95/10) must then be conducted between 60 and 90 days 

following quarantine release. 

References 

Livestock Conservation Institute. 1990. Pseudorabies Herd Plan Manual (rev). Madison, 

WI: Livestock Conservation Institute. 36 p.